The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-09

over tne GUARDS 10 repeat some laSJ mes |
sage. Richard Kirby stood In the bow Of
the boat, distinct as the smoke stack itself,
with his arms folded, taking no part in the
general leavctaking. We felt that his eye
was upon one little group, but there was no
sign to reveal what emotion was passing
within The band struck UP gay march,
the gang plank was withdrawn, and the
boat swung out TO resume her way down
the river, and still he stood there motion
less.
Almost as he was being carried out Of
light my sister brought her parasol to view,
and waved the rebel colors aloft. We saw
him brace himself more erect than before,
then wave OF his hand with the military
salute. BY this time the boat was fairly
turning round and he was lost TO view.
Not till then did my sisters courage give
way. She sank down among the reeds in
the broad sunshine and covered her face
with both her hands. besought her to go
back to the house, but she would give me
no answer. / could sec the townspeoplo
vending their way back to their accus.
toned business, or pleasure, while the
heavy throbs Of the steamer as she plowed
her way through the waters seemed like
the bursting OF some agonizod heart. We
sat there through the long summer after
noon, while watched the shadows growing
longer and deeper, and ut last, the full
glow OF the setting sun lay all about US,
turning the waters above tho bend to
molten gold, while below, where they lay
in shadow, all was dark and gray. My
sister, grown calmer now, and looking at
the scene, said:
"Gracie, you see my life in this picture.
There is the gold of my vanished youth;
there, below, is the darkness OF despair,
i, n,tts,1 IA
track"
We watched the golden glory fade away,
and the gray shadows that came creeping
| on, and soon the slender curve Of the now
moon stood over the darkcncd waters The
| dampness OF early night was all about US,
| and Rachel, our old house servant, filled
with anxiety came searching for us. Her
| first words were:
Ms Jane, have ben a huntin fer We
all ober de place. Yere's letter Massa
Richard done sent by little Bob, but clar
to goodness couldn't find ye nowhar"
Jane graaped the paper. In the twilight
she read these words:
| v! go to my death, Jane, for you. Had you
SAID one word, my resolve had been shaken.
God knows you are more to mo than fame, or
| life itself What is life 70 me without you!
There Is not even the soldiers hope Of glory.
| One name to add to the list of dend, or missing,
that Is ALL For the sake OF the old days, Jane,
send me some token rs o charm in the hour of
danger. It's all shall ever ask at your hands.
| "RICHARD."
Here was his old impetuuus self again,
still ignoring all rebuffs and flinging his
unavailing love at her feet. Ah! il he could
have seen her at this moment, have seen
the passionate kisses which she bestowed
upon this inanimate piece of paper, he
would have forsworn all hope of glory in
deed.
| CHAPTER II.
Not word Of this did dare breathe to
my father. AS we were seated on the
veranda, before retiring for the night, he
referred to the departure, saying, every
rebel should do likewise. III they were no,
satisfied with the best government on earth
let them try to overthrow it. They would
soon find an end to their boasting. He little
knew, at that moment, that in my sisters
hand lay the little red and white rosette
which she had detached from her parasol
seeking the first opportunity to send it tc
her hot-headed lover as the s'charm in the
hour Of danger"
The heavy odor Of the red and white June
roses was waited on the night air, and my
sister plucked two of their buds, the red ant
the white and fastened them at her girdle
Tho act had no significance in my fathers
eyes, but knew that from that moment
she was as surely pledged to the Southern
Confederacy rs was her valiant lover.
In few days came the news of the open
| ing conflict on Missouri soil, in the battle ol
Boonville. My father was triumphant
Lyon had routed the State forces. A
deathly pallor swept over my sisters face
but she would ask no questions. Only those
who experienced the dread suspense which
those early battles eutailed, can know the
agony which she endured during the sue
ceedng days until a message came by the
hand of 'little Bob" 1t was this:
Your token lies over my heart. We los,
camp Jackson but we whipped the Home
| Guards at Warsaw. Now we have arms ani
horses: Forward to glory! Your true knigh,
| will yet win his bride. RICHARD"
In the enlistment of Southern troops in
Missouri there was little of the pageantry
of war to captivate the senses. There were
no uniforms with gilded buttons and stars
of gold to dazzle the eve. Nothing to dis
tinguish the officer from his subordinate
save bit of red flannel, or piece of cotton
cloth fastened to his shoulder or his sleeve
They had no muster rolls; they slept under
the blue canopy of heaven, fed upon the
growing corn and turned their worn out
horses to feed upon the wild prairie grass
as in some rare frolic which all too soon be
came tragic. This encounter with the Home
Guards encouraged the somewhat disheart
ened volunteers. Then came the news that
Ben McCulloch, with his Texan Rangers
was on his way to their relief and their ex
ultation knew no bounds.
The sultry days of July were full of fore
boding to the Union men. The disaster at
Bull Run had given outspoken bravado tc
the secessionists, knowing that the greater
part OF the force under Lyon, opposed tt
the State forces, was composed Of three
months men, whose term of service woult
soon expire. The Unionists placed theil
great hope upon the convention which the,
had called for the purpose of deposinl
General jackson. My father was no hal
way Union man. Once in, he was in hear
and soul, and when Lyons pitiful appeals
to his superiors in command for reinforce
ments went unheeded, my father announced
his intention Of going with squad O
Union men to offer their lives, If need be
to save Missouri
1t was no time for tears as he announced
this decision, as we must prepare wha
was necessary for his departure that YER,
steamboat smote our expectant ears an,
my father came in to say farewell.
II am going with you, father" said Jane
''You, child What can you dol 1t i
no place for women" said my father.
'But am going, father, with you, O
without you. Where there is fighting ther
must be nurses. lam going"
Her calm deliberation was so like hi
own that he seemed unable to offer any re
| mOustrance. At last he said: